Dome shaped hot-fill container

Abstract

A container has a domed shaped top portion that is located above the body portion. The body portion connects with the domed shaped top portion via a waist portion that has a variable distance from the longitudinal axis of the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hot-fillable container comprising:
 a domed shaped top portion having a longitudinal axis; 
 a waist portion located below the top portion; 
 a body portion located below the waist portion, the waist portion having a substantially constant vertical width and being recessed with respect to adjacent outer surfaces of both the top portion and the body portion; 
 the body portion having a flexible panel having an upper end and a lower end, and wherein a first distance from a surface of the flexible panel near the upper end to the longitudinal axis is less than a second distance from the surface of the flexible panel near the lower end to the longitudinal axis; 
 a base portion located below the body portion; and 
 wherein a distance from the waist portion to the longitudinal axis is non-constant and a distance from the waist portion to the base portion is non-constant. 
 
     
     
       2. The hot-fillable container of  claim 1 , wherein the waist portion comprises four corner portions, wherein the distance from each of the four corner portions to the longitudinal axis is equal. 
     
     
       3. The hot-fillable container of  claim 1 , wherein the waist portion comprises four corner portions, and four mid-point waist portions, wherein two of the four mid-point waist portions are located a first distance from a bottom of the body portion and two of the four mid-point waist portions are located a second distance from the bottom of the body portion, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
     
     
       4. The hot-fillable container of  claim 1 , wherein the domed shaped top portion further comprises a continuous circumferential rib. 
     
     
       5. The hot-fillable container of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion comprises four interconnected sides. 
     
     
       6. The hot-fillable container of  claim 5 , wherein the body portion further comprises a groove located above the base portion. 
     
     
       7. The hot-fillable container of  claim 5 , wherein a groove is located above the base portion on two of the sides. 
     
     
       8. The hot-fillable container of  claim 5 , wherein two of the sides are vacuum flex panels and further wherein the distance from the outer surface of the vacuum flex panels to the longitudinal axis increases from the waist portion to a bottom of the body portion. 
     
     
       9. The hot-fillable container of  claim 5 , wherein the base portion has two circumferential ribs. 
     
     
       10. A hot-fillable container comprising:
 a domed shaped top portion; 
 a waist portion located below the top portion, wherein the waist portion comprises four corner portions; 
 a body portion located below the waist portion, wherein the body portion comprises four sides, the waist portion having a substantially constant vertical width and being recessed with respect to adjacent outer surfaces of both the top portion and the body portion; 
 the body portion further having a flexible panel having an upper end and a lower end, and wherein a first distance from a surface of the flexible panel near the upper end to the longitudinal axis is less than a second distance from the surface of the flexible panel near the lower end to the longitudinal axis; 
 a base portion located below the body portion; and 
 wherein a distance from the corner portions of the waist portion to a bottom of the body portion is greater than the distance from any other location on the waist portion to the bottom of the body portion. 
 
     
     
       11. The hot-fillable container of  claim 10 , wherein the distances from each of the four corner portions to the base portion are equal. 
     
     
       12. The hot-fillable container of  claim 10 , wherein the waist portion further comprises four mid-point waist portions, wherein two of the four mid-point waist portions are located a first distance from a bottom of the body portion and two of the four mid-point waist portions are located a second distance from the bottom of the body portion,
 wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
 
     
     
       13. The hot-fillable container of  claim 10 , wherein the domed shaped top portion further comprises a continuous circumferential rib. 
     
     
       14. The hot-fillable container of  claim 10 , wherein the body portion further comprises a groove located above the base portion. 
     
     
       15. The hot-fillable container of  claim 10 , wherein a groove is located above the base portion on two sides. 
     
     
       16. The hot-fillable container of  claim 10 , wherein two of the sides are vacuum flex panels and further wherein the distance from the outer surface of the vacuum flex panels to the longitudinal axis increases from the waist portion to a bottom of the body portion. 
     
     
       17. The hot-fillable container of  claim 10 , wherein the base portion has two circumferential ribs. 
     
     
       18. A hot-fillable container comprising:
 a domed shaped top portion; 
 a waist portion located below the top portion, wherein the waist portion forms a plurality of arcs; 
 a body portion located below the waist portion, wherein the body portion is adapted to accommodate a hot-fill process, the waist portion having a substantially constant vertical width and being recessed with respect to adjacent outer surfaces of both the top portion and the body portion; 
 the body portion further having a flexible panel having an upper end and a lower end, and wherein a first distance from a surface of the flexible panel near the upper end to the longitudinal axis is less than a second distance from the surface of the flexible panel near the lower end to the longitudinal axis; 
 a circular base located below the body portion. 
 
     
     
       19. The hot-fillable container of  claim 18 , wherein four arcs are formed. 
     
     
       20. The hot-fillable container of  claim 19 , wherein the four arcs are continuously connected.